Helminthic infections

Parasitology, 2001

Parasitic worm infections are amongst the most widespread of all chronic human infections. It is estimated that there are more than 3 billion infections in the world today. In many low income countries it is often more common to be infected than not to be. Indeed, a child growing up in an endemic community can expect be infected soon after weaning, and to be infected and constantly reinfected for the rest of her or his life. Infection is most common amongst the poorest and most disadvantaged communities, and is typically most intense in children of school going age. As the risk of morbidity is directly related to intensity of infection, it follows that children are the most at risk from the morbid effects of disease. Multiparasite infections are also common in such communities and there is evidence that individuals harbouring such infections may suffer exacerbated morbidity, making children even more vulnerable. Thus, these infections pose a serious threat to the health and developm...

European Journal of Inflammation, 2020

Soil transmitted helminthes (STH) are among the major public health issues in tropical and sub-tropical countries infecting more than 2 billion humans worldwide. STH causes considerable morbidity in children, affecting their cognitive development and physical growth. Endemic areas with poor sanitation and limited access to good quality water supply have the highest burden of STH infection. Various approaches to reduce and control the worm infections include the intermittent deworming of children with anti-helminthic drugs. Individual patient management and population based studies can only be successful upon using the diagnostic techniques with high accuracy. The lack of reliable tools for the provision of correct diagnostic results about the status and intensity of infection is a major challenge, as these factors varies considerably in areas of low infection intensities. The techniques currently available for the diagnosis of parasitic infections show limited specificity and sensit...

Asian Journal of Research in Infectious Diseases

Aim: To discuss about the specific characteristics of intestinal parasitic infection that contributes to the formation of stunting. Discussion: Intestinal parasites infection (IPI) are one of the global utmost health dilemmas, because they put certain vulnerable member of the population, e.g., children, in danger. Global prevalence rate of IPI varied from 30-60%, especially in developing countries located within the region of tropical and subtropical zone that create a definite public health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, including Indonesia. Basically, IPI divided into helminths- and protozoans; each have different and unique characteristics with helminths have a more sophisticated life cycle compare to protozoan. IPI tends to be chronic and sub-clinical, due to the evasion the host's immune system. This chronic IPI affects the host, directly and indirectly, and in long term when it happen during toddlerhood, it contributes to the formation of underno...

2010

Parasites found in the human gastrointestinal tract can be largely categorized into two groups, protozoa and helminths. The soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura) are the most prevalent, infecting an estimated one-sixth of the global population. Infection rates are highest in children living in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by Asia and then Latin America and the Caribbean. The current momentum towards global drug delivery for their control is at a historical high through the efforts of numerous initiatives increasingly acting in coordination with donors, governments and local communities. Together, they have delivered enormous quantities of drugs, especially anthelmintics to children through nationwide annual or biannual mass drug administration largely coordinated through schools. However, a much larger and rapidly growing childhood population in these regions remains untreated and suffering from more than one parasite. Mass drug administration has profound potential for control but is not without considerable challenges and concerns. A principal barrier is funding. Stimulating a research and development pipeline, supporting the necessary clinical trials to refine treatment, in addition to procuring and deploying drugs (and sustaining these supply chains), requires substantial funding and resources that do not presently exist. Limited options for chemotherapy raise concerns about drug resistance developing through overuse, however, satisfactory pharmacoepidemiology and monitoring for drug resistance requires more developed health infrastructures than are generally available. Further, the †Author for correspondence, Graduate Group in Demography, limited pharmacopeia does not include any effective second-line options if resistance emerges, and the research and development pipeline is severely depressed. Herein, we discuss the major gastrointestinal protozoa and helminths reviewing their impact on child health, changing epidemiology and how this relates to their control.

PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2015

A new "worm index" confirms a strong association between helminth infections and impaired human development. In June 2012, a landmark United Nations conference on sustainable development was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Known as Rio+20, the conference focused on a new set of sustainable development goals (SDGs) that would begin following the sunset of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015 . Like the MDGs, the SDGs will focus on poverty reduction, gender equality, and human and economic development, but in addition the SDGs will also emphasize food security and key issues related to the environment, such as climate change, the oceans, and biodiversity [1].

Nigerian Journal of Medicine

IntroductIon Helminthic infections and diarrheal diseases have remained public health problems worldwide, especially in developing countries. [1,2] Despite the replacement of the Millennium Development Goals by the Sustainable Development Goals three aimed at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, helminthic infections and diarrhoeal diseases have remained global burdens. [3,4] It is estimated that two billion people or 24% of the world's population are infected with soil-transmitted helminthic infections. [5-7] According to a 2015 report of the WHO, approximately 0.807-1.221 billion humans have Ascariasis, 604-795 million have Trichuriasis, and 576-740 million have Hookworm infestation worldwide. [6] These infections are widespread in Africa with high prevalence rate in Nigeria. [6,8-10] Over 270 million preschool-age children, Background: Helminthic infections and diarrheal diseases have remained public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. Children below five years of age are at a higher risk. This study therefore aims to determine the prevalence, and intensity of intestinal helminths in children with and without the diarrheal disease. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study of 130 children aged 6 to 59 months, carried out in the Children Emergency Room and the Diarrhea Treatment and Training Unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (U. C. T. H), Calabar, Nigeria. Those admitted with and without diarrhoea were consecutively recruited. Data were obtained by administration of questionnaires to parents/caregivers whose children met the inclusion criteria. Clinical examinations including anthropometric parameters (weight and length/height) were carried out on all the children recruited for the study while mid-upper arm circumference was done for children aged 12-59 months. Stool samples were collected from each child into a wide mouth universal, clean, dry, leak-proof, container, with the help of their parents/guardians. Microscopy was carried out on the stool samples collected within 1 h in the microbiology laboratory for the presence of ova, larva, or worm segment using direct microscopy with saline and iodine wet preparation and formol ether concentration. Ova were identified and quantified. The type of worm and intensity were recorded. Results: Out of the 130 children, 65 (50%) had diarrhea while the other 65 (50%) were without diarrhoea. The mean age of subjects with diarrhea was 16.86 ± 11.7 months and 17.60 ± 9.9 months for those without diarrhoea. There was no significant difference in sex distribution between the age groups (P = 0.86). The overall prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection in the study population was 1.5%. The prevalence of intestinal helminths in those with diarrhea and those without diarrhea was 3.1% and 0.0%, respectively, (P = 0.496). Only Ancylostoma duodenale (hookworm) was isolated in those with diarrhea and it was of light intensity. There was no significant difference in the method of disposal and source of water, comparing subjects having diarrhea and those not having diarrhea (P > 0.05). The proportions of subjects that usually played in the sand, go on footwear outside home, and go on footwear at home, were not significantly different comparing those having diarrhea and those not having diarrhea (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence rate of intestinal helminths in children with and without diarrhoea was low. There was general environmental cleanliness and personal hygiene in the study population which were likely responsible for the low helminthic infection thus emphasizing the need for maintenance of good hygiene, access to good water supply and periodic intake of anti-helminthic drugs in view of the public health importance of helminthic infection and diarrhoea.

BMC Infectious Diseases, 2018

Background: Epidemiological information on the burden of various parasitic infections and associated factors in different localities is indispensable to develop appropriate control and prevention measures as well as to monitor and evaluate existing programs. Hence the aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of intestinal helminths among school age children in Arbaminch Zuria district, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting 391 primary school age children. Participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data about socio-demographic characteristics and perceived factors associated with intestinal parasitosis. Stool microscopic examination was done following standard protocol. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 22. Results: Among 391 children participated, 181 (46.3%; 95% CI: 41.9-51.5) were infected with intestinal helminths. The magnitudes of single and double infections were 40.2% and 6.1% respectively. Seven helminths were detected among which Ascaris lumbricoides was with the highest frequency (56, 14.3%) followed by hookworms (55, 14.1%). Not washing fruits and vegetables before consumption (AOR = 2.16; 95%CI: 1.10-4.25, p = 0.026) and habit of swimming (AOR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.03-1.95, p = 0.045) were significantly associated with helminthic infection. Conclusion: High prevalence of intestinal helminthic infections among school age children demands integration of deworming with water, hygiene and sanitation as well as consistent health education.

National Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 2016

Introduction: Intestinal helminth infections are a problem worldwide in children responsible for a majority of the morbidity associated with it. School going age children are also at special risk of being infected by these parasites. Aim: To analyse the burden and types of intestinal helminths in school going children in comparison to the whole paediatric population. Materials and Methods: Five hundred children were included within a period of three years and in all 720 stool and duodenal aspirates samples were collected and sent for routine testing including repeats were included. The study tried to compare the intestinal helminth infections between school going children and preschool children, its distributions, risk factors or any associated morbidities and co-infections. Results: In all, 127 children were positive for a type of intestinal infection by routine stool/aspirate microscopy which was confirmed by concentration method of which 93 children were positive for an intestinal helminth infection. 24.9% (81/325) of the children were test positive school going children and the remaining 34/127 (26.7%) children were positive for other non-helminth parasitic infections. Maximum positivity was of hookworm (51, 40.1%), followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (46, 36.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (21, 16.5%) and Enterobius vermicularis (9, 7%). Single species of helminth infection was seen in 70.8% (90/127) of the infected children in contrast to 2.3% (3/127) children having multiple types of parasitic helminth infections. Maximum prevalence was seen among the 6-10 years age group (54.8%). Conclusion: Silent infection or hyper infection was seen especially in the immunocompromised children. Intestinal parasitic infections are very much prevalent. Strong suspicion, proper diagnosis and preventive measures are the need of the hour.

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2002

Anthelmintic treatment of sick preschool-age children at health facilities is a potentially effective strategy for intestinal helminth control in this age-group. We conducted a study from July 1998 to February 1999 in western Kenya to determine whether the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) guidelines' clinical assessment can be used to identify helminth-infected children, and to evaluate the nutritional benefit of treating sick children without pallor with an anthelmintic (mebendazole is already part of IMCI treatment for sick children aged 2-4 years with palmar pallor in areas where hookworm and Trichuris trichiura infections are endemic). Sick children aged 2-4 years seen at 3 rural health facilities were clinically evaluated and tested for haemoglobin concentration, malaria parasites, and intestinal helminths. Children without pallor were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of 500 mg of mebendazole or a placebo and reexamined 6 months later. Among the 574 children enroIled, 11% had one or more intestinal helminths. Most infections were of light intensity. Selected clinical signs and symptoms available from the IMCI assessment, including palmar pallor and low weight-forage , were not associated with helminth infection. Six months after enrolment, no differences in growth of children without pallor were observed between the mebendazole (n = 166) and placebo (n = 181) groups. However, there was a significantly greater mean increase in weight, height, and weight-forage 2 score among the helminth-infected children in the mebendazole group (n = 22) as compared with helminthinfected children in the placebo group (n = 20). We conclude that even lightly infected preschool-age children without palmar pallor benefit from anthelmintic treatment; however, in this study setting of low helminth prevalence and intensity, helminth-infected children could not be identified using the IMCI guidelines. Cost-effectiveness studies are needed to help define helminth prevalence thresholds for routine anthelmintic treatment of sick preschool-age children seen at first-level health facilities.